#32 YIN YANG
The YIN YANG has Chinese origins and is connected to the study of the sun’s path around the earth. A 365 day year is represented, as the solstices and equinoxes encapture the cyclical nature of seasons. In it’s simplest, the white represents light and is called Yang while the black represents dark and is called Yin. At Summer Solstice, Yin begins to lead and at Winter Solstice, it is Yang’s turn to lead.
When you look deeper, you find that there are four clear descriptors in this symbol:
The large white section : Yang masculine energy, penetrative
The small white circle : Yin masculine energy, safe space
The large black section : Yin feminine energy, gestating
The small black circle : Yang feminine energy, life force itself
Below, you will find descriptions of each of the four. All life contains these elements. Inside each of us, is a foundational quad of YIN YANG and ultimate balance can be achieved when we learn to understand all four aspects of our own lives.
First, the YIN MASCULINE appears: How it feels in the arms of the Father.
He stands assured of himself and solid. He is kind and generous with his love. His support means you have a trustworthy structure to thrive within. He knows how to hold space and guard the vulnerable. He is resourceful and patient. His is a heart of STEADFAST, RADICAL PRESENCE. He is the Ideal Father, The Riverbank or the Loving King.
Listen to his message… “I will always catch you.” He gently reminds. “Come wait here with me. Enjoy the wait! Every moment is to be treasured with you. I have your back. I am the strong riverbank ready to hold, to celebrate, to adore your flowing life. Nothing can add or take away from your wholeness. I find you utterly delightful! My eyes shine with mercy, grace and love for you.”
When he is injured, he hides his shame behind many masks. The underdeveloped YIN masculine may hide in instability because in the past, he didn’t feel like his environment gave him the safe container to explore who he was. The underdeveloped YIN masculine may be frustrated and impatient, with a lack of conviction and impressionability that often cripples his self-confidence.
The overdeveloped YIN masculine may hide in inertia because in the past, he could’ve faced disappointment or unattainable expectations. He may be a procrastinator, a grudge holder, or carry an air of staleness. Stagnation inevitably sets in with a belief that he cannot overcome this stupor on his own.
“Hide! Hide! Hide!” He hears in his mind. “You’re failing everyone. Give up! Check out!”
Humiliation is his biggest fear. He is the Hermit or the Absent Father.
When steadfast presence gives safe containing energy, then life can grow and develop into YANG MASCULINE energy: How it feels in the arms of the Lover
His crooked smile makes your toes curl. You feel the desire coming from him, his energy is indulgent and risky. When consent is shared, he sweeps you away with his charisma, intelligence and adventurous spirit. He is truly free in his love for himself and his willingness to share who he is. He is the Lover, the Warrior or the Seeker.
Hear his message… “Now that we’ve found each other, every moment feels more alive! Let’s go together! I know what I want is you. What do you want to try next? You believe in me? I will adore you forever. I will be fearless for you. I know how to please you and am unashamedly going to rock your world for eternity.”
When he has been wounded, he strikes out or disappears. The underdeveloped YANG masculine may hide in aimlessness and fear of risking exposure. He may act scattered and indecisive, too intimidated to make choices and stand in right responsibility for them. The underdeveloped YANG masculine may wander, waiting for a kind authority to take him under wing. His own authority and autonomy are distant dreams. He can become indulgent, obsessive or missing.
“What life I get will only be taken from me. Disappointment when they abandon me means I am better off alone and guarded. I’m lost. Go numb. Dissociate. There’s nothing here for me. It’s pointless.”
The overdeveloped YANG masculine may be argumentative, deprecating and intrusive, not understanding or respecting boundaries. He may be cocky, driven and rapacious. When control is lost, he can be violent. He may become arrogant and narcissistic, a wounded soul demanding his worth at all costs.
“My way or the highway! You live under my roof, you follow my rules!!” He bellows and steams. “That belongs to me! How dare you find my behavior questionable! Who do you think you are?” He is the Predator.
When the female finds safety and love, she opens wide to receive and nurture. The YIN FEMININE: In the arms of the Mother
Wrapped in her embrace is the most authentic experience of home. She is made of gentleness and curves, soft folds and safety. This is what love feels like: to be nourished at her breast, to be seen, adored, held, known and loved in the ways only she can. She is the Great Mother, and the Compassionate Queen.
Feel her heart’s message to you… Let me feed you platters of your favorites! Warm soup in bed and skipping school after dentist appointments. I am your soft place to land, She coos. I love you. There is nothing you could do to make my love lessen. I am in awe of you. Your needs matter to me. You are my most beloved creation. I know when to let you fly. I will fight for you and cheer you on. I will hold your heart in mine.
When her trust is broken, she does what she has to. The underdeveloped YIN feminine is aloof and impenetrable. She chooses to disappear by walking out the door or by shutting down all energy outwards in your direction. She is missing, rigid and people call her cold or selfish. She bears her burdens and expects you to also. She is the Cold Bitch.
“Resist everything!! Contract or they will invade! Hold tight!! Have no needs. Shut down. Needs are just opportunities to be ignored.”
The overdeveloped YIN feminine is devouring. Instead of gestating the seed, these mothers smother, possess, stifle and control. They can be demanding or manipulatively shaming to get what they need. She acts from fear and wants to avoid abandonment above all. Her needs were not met as a young one, and she internalized the only way to get attention was to force it in sweet ways or otherwise. She is the Siren.
Within the power of the mud coming together, The YANG FEMININE: Explodes into New Life
In her own mysterious and organic timing, she comes and brings an explosion of new life with her. Do not rush her, nor try to control the flow of her manifestations. She is pure BEING. Watch her move with the rushing tide. She knows intimately the cycles and rhythms. With joyful participation, she will birth in perfect timing. She is the High Priestess, the Trickster or Crone. She is Artemis, Persephone, Lilith and Mary Magdalene. She is Kali. In her womb, is the velvet black Void.
With her perfect arrival, she speaks… Surrender to the Void. Simply lean back and let yourself fall. I am synchronicities and magic. I am immanence and transcendence. You are your own authority! Look Within! Come create with me, you Life Source, you Light of God. You’ll never guess what we have prepared! Just buckle up and get ready for a wild good time! Trust the flow of the divine within.
The underdeveloped YANG feminine is afraid of change and wants to wiggle down into her comfortable rut. She hesitates because of her lack of self-esteem and she misses the wave of inspiration. She desires security more than freedom and can be meddling or rejecting in her efforts to get it. She can be obsessive or detached.
The overdeveloped YANG feminine will destroy you to ash. She uses the ultimate control she has, ready to go silent or go raging. Be it through seduction or intimidation, she will lure you into her trap. She is the Black Widow.
I don’t want to be here!! I cannot exist in this world!! I am alone!! I want to hide away somewhere dark where no one can see me. Don’t look at me!!! I am so ashamed of being this monster who no one can understand or care for. I have been abandoned and so, ultimately I abandon myself to bitterness or vengefulness or the subservient nightmare of biting my tongue and pretending he has all the answers.
